Carlton’s Andrew Walker set to miss Richmond clash
1:08

Carlton midfielder Brock McLean says an interrupted pre-season was no excuse for the teams round one loss; meanwhile Andrew Walker is set to miss the blockbuster clash against Richmond through suspension.

Fox Footy review: Carlton v Port Adelaide
3:02

Fox Footy crew review Carlton's break down in the 4th quarter of their round one clash with Port Adelaide

Fox Sports

18 Mar 2014

Sport/AFL/Previews & Reviews

Mathieson, a former club director, has gifted hundreds of lucrative poker machines to Carlton and remains an influential figure at Visy Park.

His nephew, Craig, sits on the Carlton board.

Mathieson said the club’s No.1 priority should be to poach a rival recruiter from a top-four club this season.

Veteran recruiter Wayne Hughes was made redundant at the start of the year, with his former assistant Shane Rogers heading up the department since 2012.

Highly rated recruiter Luke Williams, poached by the Blues from Geelong last year, quit the club after six months to join Richmond.

Mathieson said he believed a club’s chief recruiter was as important as the senior coach.

“I’ve been saying it for years — we need a change in recruiting. In my opinion, we are desperate,” Mathieson said.

“The No. 1 position of any club is the recruiter, then comes the coach. They are the two major people. You can get presidents anywhere, you can get directors anywhere.

“But if you haven’t got a recruiter ... it’s like a horse trainer - if you haven’t got blokes selecting the right horses it doesn’t matter how good the trainer is. If you haven’t got the stock, you’ve got nothing.

“You tell me one exciting young player we’ve got coming on? And even if you can come up with one, look at the players that Port Adelaide have brought on - and look at the recruiting of Hawthorn and how they have filled all their gaps. They haven’t had first and second picks.

“Who have we got as a dynamic footballer in that team?

“This is what you’ve got to ask yourself - how many of our players would get a game at Hawthorn or Fremantle in the same position?”

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Comments on this story

Not of A fan Posted at 12:55 PM March 18, 2014

But the fall guy will be the head coach, just as they crucified Denis Pagan, Mick will go the same way because he is too tough on all the pampered pooches.

Blueboy Posted at 12:01 PM March 18, 2014

You hit the nail on the head Bruce, but how has it taken this many years to figure that out?

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